Confess Your Parenting Sins Here

[LiteBrite]

I'll start. I've got one child only, a 19yoDD. She's a great kid in so many ways - smart, funny, talented, hardworking - well, there's a catch to that last one. She works very hard at school and on her music (she's a violin major) and on whatever creative project has her attention at the moment.

What she doesn't work hard at, and never has, is cleaning. Anything. Not her room at home, not her dorm room at college, not her car, not the dishes she eats out of, not her laundry, nothing, nada, zip. She is a total slob.

I am here to accept my share of the responsibility for this. I know she'd be more disciplined in this area if I had worked harder to make her be. It's not that I didn't try at all, because I did, but I also know that I could have tried harder.

I understand her - I was just as bad as she is now when I was her age. My own mother didn't make me clean very much, either. I knew that, I swore I'd do better, but it just didn't turn out that way. Now DD is going to go into adult life with the same substandard housekeeping skill set that I did. I'm still not a great housekeeper, but boy, have I ever come a long way.

I feel better getting that off my chest. Who wants to go next?

 

[NMAmy]

My 16 yo dd is a slob, too. I used to be when I was her age so I don't worry too much about it because I'm Nina Neatnik now. Plus, the kid has 100's of cd's that are ALWAYS in alphabetical order. Same with her dvd's. Her room looks like a tornado went through it but she can put her hand on the correct cd just like that!

What cracks me up is that she calls me from her dad's house and complains about what slobs her stepmom and stepsisters are and how dirty the house is. I just said, "Hello, Pot? Meet the kettle."

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Listen lady, that's between God and me. Now get the hell out of my face.

 

[mamacatnv]

Kids & Dh are total slobs. I draw the line at their bedroom doors. I don't care what it looks like, if they can't find a place to sleep not my problem, when the favorite doll or cell phone go missing oh well...."You want to have a friend spend the night? Not in that rat hole, better get it cleaned up" this works well with younger DD, there is no hope for DS.

DS only cleans his car when something is missing or he has a date.

DH is the worst offender. He does not know what a laundry basket is, make a bed is a foreign concept.

I have provided the kids & DH with all the organizational tools they could ever want, clear bins, clear bin holders, desk organizers, closet organizers, baskets, hooks etc.. to no avail.
I chalk it up to lazyness (theirs & mine) - they do not get away with the rest of the house being a pig sty, cluttered yes, dirtly, no. They must clean their bathroom and kitchen so that deep down I know they know how to clean, they just don't and I have bigger battles to wage.

I spend a chunk on a housekeeper who comes every other week and keeps the health department at bay. When I am feeling snarky and someone asks for a treat/new clothes etc. I will generally use the "no, I'm sorry we can't I have to pay the housekeeper this week" doesn't phase them.

 

[tnkr mom]

I'll confess - Totally stressed out one morning trying to get a difficult DD to school, DS to sitter and me to work on time - I left DS all bundled up in his car carrier in the house. Got to end of driveway realized it in a panic sweat stopped the car and ran back into house feeling like the WORST mother of the year!!!!!

 

[sugarpie]

The first thing that comes to mind is today when I was taking my 3 year old to the bathroom in Target & she had no underwear on. I asked her where her underwear was & she said I never put any on her today. I just stuck a pair of jeans on her with no underwear!

 

[The Mayor]

Mine were bottle fed and spanked...good news is they turned out just fine.

 

[Goofyluver]

Listen lady, that's between God and me. Now get the hell out of my face.

 

[LiteBrite]

The first thing that comes to mind is today when I was taking my 3 year old to the bathroom in Target & she had no underwear on. I asked her where her underwear was & she said I never put any on her today. I just stuck a pair of jeans on her with no underwear!

That's no sin - that's just commando training.

 

[mickeyboat]

The kids had Girl Scout Cookies for breakfast yesterday.

 

[shirleyb]

I don't clean out my kids' backpacks. Other moms will say, did you get the note about whatever, and I have to admit I haven't seen it.

 

[lovetoscrap]

The first thing that comes to mind is today when I was taking my 3 year old to the bathroom in Target & she had no underwear on. I asked her where her underwear was & she said I never put any on her today. I just stuck a pair of jeans on her with no underwear!

Could be worse, mine was in a dress and she announced it standing in line to pay at Golden Corral! "MOMMMY, YOU FORGOT MY PANTIES!" She of course, then lifted up her dress to prove it.

 

[mookie]

The kids had Girl Scout Cookies for breakfast yesterday.

Um, yep. Just did that last week.

I don't clean out my kids' backpacks. Other moms will say, did you get the note about whatever, and I have to admit I haven't seen it.

You mean they bring stuff home in that backpack? For me?

Mine were bottle fed and spanked...good news is they turned out just fine.

Um, ditto.

So, does that make me a multitasking bad mom?

 

[minkydog]

My parenting sins, hmmm....well, I didn't let them start dance school until DD was 8yo. And I let them quit taking piano after 3yrs when they decided they didn't want to play anymore. I didn't let them join fall & spring sports teams because of the impact the schedule would have on our family. And the worst of all....I never took them to WDW until they were 8 & 14

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Could be worse, mine was in a dress and she announced it standing in line to pay at Golden Corral! "MOMMMY, YOU FORGOT MY PANTIES!" She of course, then lifted up her dress to prove it.

OMG... that is tooo funny

 

[lovetoscrap]

The kids had Girl Scout Cookies for breakfast yesterday.

That would never happen in MY house













(cause I already at them all for breakfast this morning )

 

[Cindy B]

I've got too many to count. Between my son and daughter, its a wonder they have all their limbs.

Yes, both kids have broken both of thier arms. I was pretty sure DYFS would investigate, but they all happened outside or playing sports.

 

[lovetoscrap]

OMG... that is tooo funny

I should also probably mention that she STILL remembers it (she is almost 7 now) and likes to remind me at the worst times of "Remember when you forgot my panties when we were at Golden Corrall".

I thought kids weren't supposed to remember much before about age 4 or 5

 

[LaraK]

I don't always make my kids eat their veggies...I try, but it's not always worth the fight.

 

[dis ms.]

And the worst of all....I never took them to WDW until they were 8 & 14

This thread was cracking me up....until this. That's just wrong.



DS7 and DD4 just snuggled in the chair with me and watched "Gay, Straight, or Taken".